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Thread: 20 years of watches come and gone………PLUS CURVEX

  1. #1
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    20 years of watches come and gone………PLUS CURVEX

    **ADDED A 1930s GRUEN CURVEX MOVEMENT SECTION AT BOTTOM OF THIS ORIGINAL POST**

    So…I’ve acquired and flipped SO many watches over the past 20 years or so, I had an opportunity last night to retrieve some of the old photos off my ancient backup remote drive. Seems my desktop cratered on me and I had to do a quick backup of documents, photos, music, etc., before the computer consultant came by to reinstall Windows 10 from scratch.

    There is probably at least three or four times more NOT presented here due to either not finding them, or too similar to the ones I selected.

    Some watches include multiple images where I thought appropriate (e.g., movement, engraving).

    I hope your computer is equipped with about 24GB of memory to handle this onslaught! Have fun!

    In no particular order…










































































































































































































































































    ****************************************


    I showed a couple Gruens above, but forgot to include a photo of their unique patented "Curvex" movement of the 1930s. It was concave on the bottom to aid in curving the case to the wrist. The watch of mine I found (below) had a 'moderate' curve to it. There were several distinct Curvex movements built by Gruen throughout the 1930s in their massive Cincinnati factory. I'll sleuth around the web to find a few more 'extreme' examples.




    ...from THIS watch:




    ...and a few other Gruen/Curvex examples I found:









    Last edited by pacifichrono; 28th May 2020 at 09:31. Reason: Forgot one...

  2. #2
    Wow that’s a lot of watches! And some absolute crackers in there, I particularly like the rectangular speedmaster towards the start. Thanks for sharing
    Dan

  3. #3
    Master
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    Very nice Tom. I would imagine looking at those photos now there are a few regrets having let some of them go. Not surprisingly lots of military themed watches in there.
    I love that Omega seamaster 600.
    What do you have left in the collection now?
    Thanks for posting, I enjoyed looking through those.

  4. #4
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DANH View Post
    Wow that’s a lot of watches! And some absolute crackers in there, I particularly like the rectangular speedmaster towards the start. Thanks for sharing
    Dan
    Thanks Dan. That one is VERY special: it's the 125th Omega Anniversary Edition in near mint condition. I don't know if there is a heavier watch! It's like chiseled out of a block of steel!

  5. #5
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cat7 View Post
    Very nice Tom. I would imagine looking at those photos now there are a few regrets having let some of them go. Not surprisingly lots of military themed watches in there.
    I love that Omega seamaster 600.
    What do you have left in the collection now?
    Thanks for posting, I enjoyed looking through those.
    Not much! I'll be 73 this summer and I've been cutting back. My 'best' is now an '80s Ollech & Wajs Mirage auto chrono.

  6. #6
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    BTW, the 1675 GMT is from 1969, and the Datejust above it is a 1971 (if I recall correctly).

  7. #7
    Now that would be an incredible collection if you had kept them all! Impeccable taste, I love the old Hamilton’s.


    Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

  8. #8
    Master watch-nut's Avatar
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    very nice, the vintage ones look to be excellent examples of their type, very nice

    the PVD Heuer and the Nipple dial Bi Metal GMT steel the show for me

  9. #9
    Master Neilw3030's Avatar
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    For me the stand outs are the art deco ones, i love the style, just a shame they are so small

  10. #10
    Craftsman
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    Inspirational collection. Lots of variety there as well. I really enjoy the military (and military looking) watches.

  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by pacifichrono View Post
    Thanks Dan. That one is VERY special: it's the 125th Omega Anniversary Edition in near mint condition. I don't know if there is a heavier watch! It's like chiseled out of a block of steel!
    Good info thanks I’d not heard of that model, tough question I know but do you think you’ve had an absolute favourite over the years?

  12. #12
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
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    Absolutely amazing watches. Love that Stowa chrono

  13. #13
    I enjoyed scrolling through those photographs PC, thank you. The Ventura chronograph was my particular favourite.

  14. #14
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DANH View Post
    Good info thanks I’d not heard of that model, tough question I know but do you think you’ve had an absolute favourite over the years?
    Besides the Pepsi GMT, I think I miss the Breitling Top Time the most. I wore it for 6-7 years.

  15. #15
    Craftsman
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    Great photos.

    For some reason the Cartier really grabbed me, although I liked the vintage Hamiltons and Bulovas as well.

  16. #16
    Master
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    Some very unusual watched there, I've never seen some of those before. I especially like the Invicta, I never thought I would say that.

  17. #17
    A fantastic set of watches.

    If you still had all those now I reckon it would have been the most interesting collection I have seen on TZ.

  18. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by pacifichrono View Post
    Besides the Pepsi GMT, I think I miss the Breitling Top Time the most. I wore it for 6-7 years.
    Fair enough, the Breitling is gorgeous.Hard to choose from that lot though I’m sure!
    Last edited by DANH; 27th May 2020 at 10:28.

  19. #19
    Master
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    Wowzers so many great watches and superb variety! Highlights for me the GP, Vostok Energia, Wittnauer, Bulova rectangular salmon dial. Overall excellent collection history there and reminds me that i need to improve on the diversity of my collection.

  20. #20
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by estoban7 View Post
    Some very unusual watched there, I've never seen some of those before. I especially like the Invicta, I never thought I would say that.
    Yeah, it's an Invicta before "Invicta" was reborn!

  21. #21
    Journeyman lexminute's Avatar
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    Holy moly, that's a lot of watches. I'm actually going to do a two or three-part viewing on your photos. Amazing shots as well!!

  22. #22
    Master
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    Wow what a collection of watches ! My fav are the zenith on NATO’s. Nato straps are always so comfortable


    Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

  23. #23
    Grand Master AlphaOmega's Avatar
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    Love the SM600.

    One day...

  24. #24
    Grand Master
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    Some really lovely watches there. Great stash!
    Standouts for me are the rolexes and the deco collection.

  25. #25
    Grand Master Onelasttime's Avatar
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    Superb

    I thoroughly enoyed that – some great watches, great pictures and classy presentation.

    What are you left with now?

  26. #26
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Onelasttime View Post
    Superb

    I thoroughly enoyed that – some great watches, great pictures and classy presentation.

    What are you left with now?
    In retirement...not much! I cashed in my chips...

  27. #27
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    The Speedmaster 125 is a cracking watch.
    Thanks for sharing

  28. #28
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    Thanks to all for the kind words!

  29. #29
    That must have been a rather dispiriting post to compile .
    I am slightly relieved my disposals were less significant.
    "Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention"

  30. #30
    Grand Master MartynJC (UK)'s Avatar
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    Not bad!

    what do you have left? Many thanks for sharing and hope your computer is feeling better.

    Martyn.

  31. #31
    Journeyman RVFIO's Avatar
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    What a collection mate, some really cool stuff that you don’t see often. Dare I say it but I really like that Invicta Chrono. It’s interesting to see so many watches over such a long time with still a direction to it, I loved flicking though the pics

  32. #32
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    I notice I was grossly remiss in not posting pics of a couple 1930s Gruen Curvex movements. They were the "cat's meow!"

    I'll dig around...

  33. #33
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    Gruen Curvex supplement added to original post.

  34. #34
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    Great variety / if you still owned them all you’d never leave the house

  35. #35
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
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    Some lovely bits there Tom.

    I know most are gone but at least you can say you owned them.

    Like that Wittnauer chronograph.
    Cheers,
    Neil.

    My Speedmaster website:

    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

  36. #36
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neil.C View Post
    Some lovely bits there Tom.

    I know most are gone but at least you can say you owned them.

    Like that Wittnauer chronograph.
    Actually, every watch shown above was both acquired and sold in the past 20 years...they're all gone.

  37. #37
    What a great post and some fantastic watches there. That Oris chrono is gorgeous.
    BTW, what were you thinking when you bought the NFW??
    Last edited by RAJEN; 29th May 2020 at 20:16.

  38. #38
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RAJEN View Post
    ...BTW, what were you thinking when you bought the NFW??
    Must've been the crystal meth!

  39. #39
    Grand Master markrlondon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pacifichrono View Post
    Gruen Curvex supplement added to original post.
    Lovely. I really like these Curvex watches. I have several similar but none with such a large curve as the one you show there. I see you have/had several similar watches, including a very nice Longines.

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